Gospel preacher Guy Hester passes at age 77

Brother Hester was born Feb. 15, 1936 in Vernon, Ala., to the late Sherlie (S.F.) and Clora Price Hester. He was a minister and preached for 64 years.

He served as a full-time minister for congregations in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He did foreign and domestic mission work, and helped to found and direct the Vreed-en-Hoop School of the Bible in Guyana, South America.

Brother Hester was the senior-most staff writer for The Gospel Gleaner periodical, and published a collection of sermons entitled Keep It Simple, Son, which was inspired by his father who was also a preacher.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as a medic in Korea.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Hester Madison; three brothers, Foy Hester, Giles Wade Hester and Benny Wayne Hester; and a great-granddaughter, Allison Rosella Ham.

Brother Hester is survived by his wife, Shirley Dorrough Hester of Corinth, with whom he would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on Dec. 15; two daughters, Connie Montgomery (Larry) of Steens, and Jalema Tidwell (Jay) of Myrtle; two sons, Ferrell Hester (Lynne) of Corinth, and Tim Hester (Amy) of Crossville, Tenn.; a brother, Johnny Hester of Sikeston, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday at 11 a.m. at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home in Jasper, Ala., with Johnny Hester officiating. Burial was in Gray Cemetery in Parrish, Ala.

Randal and his wife Vicki have lived and worked in Brazil since Nov. 1984. They have three children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. He likes to read novels in his back-porch hammock. http://randal.us